Refrigerator with internal compartment divisible into independent temperature zones

• US 7,293,422 B2
• Filed: 01/15/2004
• Issued: 11/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Santinato, Matteo, Parachini, Davide, Allera, Riccardo, Braggion, Davide
• Primary Examiner(s): Jiang; Chen Wen
• Application Number:
  US10/757,890
• Publication Number:
  US 20040148949A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,398 Days
• Field of Search: 621/25, 621/26, 621/27, 621/29, 621/30, 622/98, 623/29, 621/766
• US Class Current: 62/126
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2600/07 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 17/042 Air treating means within refrigerated spaces air conditioning in general F24F
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 17/062 in household refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/16 Convertible refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/361 Interactive visual displays
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 25/024 Slidable shelves
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/06 Sensors detecting the presence of a product
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/123 more than one sensor measuring the inside temperature in a compartment
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/005 Mounting of control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2207/048 Inductive or infrared coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/007 specially adapted for indoor communication
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/22 by structural association with other equipment or articles
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/00 Loop antennas with a substantially uniform current distribution around the loop and having a directional radiation pattern in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop

Abstract

A refrigerator having a removable shelf with a user interface for setting the working conditions of a refrigerator compartment. The user interface also being able to transmit the working conditions to a control unit of the refrigerator. The refrigerator having a package to be inserted in the refrigeration compartment, the package supporting a plurality of inductors for receiving and transmitting data to the user interface.

Claims

1. A refrigerator comprising:

a refrigerator compartment having a rear wall;

a control unit;

at least one removable food support element positioned within the refrigerator compartment and having a user interface for setting the working conditions of at least a portion of the refrigerator compartment and for transferring the working conditions to the control unit; and

an antenna package configured to be removably inserted in the refrigerator compartment, the antenna package comprising at least one antenna for receiving and transmitting data from the control unit to the user interface.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the package is removable and faces the rear wall of the refrigeration compartment.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the package comprises at least some of the electronic components associated to the plurality of inductors.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein each removable food support element comprises a display for providing the user with a feedback on the conditions set in the refrigerator compartment.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein each removable food support element comprises one or more sensors for providing the user and the control unit of the refrigerator with a feedback on the actual conditions in the refrigerator compartment.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 5, wherein the one or more sensors associated with each support element are adapted to provide a signal indicative of characteristics of food placed in the refrigerator compartment or portion thereof.

7. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein each user interface is adapted to set temperature and humidity.

8. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the at least one antenna comprises at least one inductor.

9. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the antenna package comprises multiple antennas.

10. The refrigerator according to claim 9, wherein each of the multiple antennas comprises an inductor.

11. The refrigerator according to claim 1, and further comprising multiple removable food support elements.

12. The refrigerator according to claim 1, and further comprises a panel inserted in the refrigerator compartment in front of the rear wall to define a volume therebetween in which the antenna package is received.

13. The refrigerator according to claim 12, wherein an evaporator is placed between the panel and the rear wall of the refrigerator.

14. The refrigerator according to claim 13, wherein a plurality of apertures are provided in the panel for allowing airflow to the evaporator.